Tool for adjusting the snap-action of a leaf-type operating device



Aug. 9, 1960 L. v. LUCIBELLO TOOL FOR ADJUSTING THE SNAP-ACTION OF ALEAF-TYPE OPERATING DEVICE Filed Dct. 1958 INV EN TOR. Lam's VizzazZeZZo MM 4x701?? clips for numerous purposes.

TOOL FoR ADJUSTING THE SNAP-ACTION on" A LEAF-TYPE OPERATING DEVICELouisV. Lucibello, 1858 DixweH Ave., Hamden 14, Conn.

Filed Oct. 2, 1958, Ser. No. 764,869

1 Claim. (Cl.81--1 This invention relates to a tool for adjusting thesnapaction of a leaf-type operating device into different into differentpositions, usually two positions, and a leaftype spring or action armthereon which at its free end is held out of its natural repose positionso as to be resiliently stressed in a manner yieldingly to retain theoperating element in at least one of its two positions, and

to snap the operating element into either of its positions on prying thesame part-way from its other position. In the exemplary case of clips,the action arm is'sub- 'jected to bending stresses by being normallyresiliently flexed at its free end against spaced dwells of a cam orshoulder formation on the pivot support of the operating element so asto hold the latter in its two-positions, respectively, and by beingincreasingly flexed as the operating element is pried from either of itspositions until the action arm passes over the intermediate crest of thecam formation sufficiently to snap the operating element into its otherposition.

It is the primary aim and object of the present invention to provide atool for quickly and accurately adjusting the magnitude of the resilientstresses in the action arms of snap-action devices of this type,ther'eby to adjust the force of the snap-action of their operating armsor elements into each of their positions.

It is' another object of the present invention to provide a tool whichon simple application to the action arms of snap-action devices of thistype and on as simple manipulation thereof, instantaneously adjusts themagnitude of the resilient stresses in these action arms by the simpleexpediency of permanently bending the latter.

'It is a further object of the present invention to provide a singletool which on simple application to the action arms of snap-actiondevices of this type in either of two reversed fashions and on the samesimple manipulation thereof, instantaneously adjusts the magnitude ofthe resilient stresses in these action arms by the simple expediency ofpermanently bending the latter in either of two directions, thereby toincrease or decrease the force of the snap-action of their operatingarms or elements into each oftheir positions. 3

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tool for theaforementioned purpose which is of exceedingly simple construction, lowcost and small size,

yet performs highly accurately on simple manipulation thereof withoutrequiring any special skill on'the part of the manipulator.

It is also among the objects of the present invention to provide a toolespecially, though by no means exclusively, for ready adjustment of theclosing force of mass-produced, usually stamped-out, clips or locks ofwidely varying snap-actions on jewelry, and particularly I i UnitedStates Patent 2,948,171 Fatented Aug. 9, 1960 iearrings, of the low-costcustom variety which hereto- 7 individual feel and comfort.

Another object of the present invention is to provide .theaforementioned tool for any of its applications in a form resemblingsimple pliers, so that the tool may for the performance of itsdesignated exacting function advantageously be held and manipulated withone hand with the same ease and control as ordinary pliers.

Other objects and advantages will appear to those skilled in the artfrom the following, considered in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

In the accompanying drawings, in which certain modes of carrying out thepresent invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

Fig. 1 is a side view of an exemplary earring releasably secured to awearers ear lobe by a clip with which the present invention isconcerned;

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the same earring clipped in place on thewearers earlobe;

Fig. 3 shows the earring with its clip open;

Fig. 4 is a side view of a tool embodying the present invention; 7

Figs. 5 and 6 are other views of the tool as seen in the direction ofthe arrows 5 and 6, respectively, in Fig. 4; and

Figs. 7 and 8 show the tool applied to the clip of the earring of Fig. 3for increasing and decreasing the closing force of the clip,respectively.

Referring tothe drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 3 thereof,the reference numeral 10 designates an object, in the present example anearring, which has a snap-type holding or clamp-on device 12 that ischaracteristic of devices of this type for which the tool tobe-described of the present invention has been devised in order toadjust the snap or holding force of these devices. The exemplarlyearring 10 comprises the usual setting 14 for an ornament 16, with thesetting 14 being a part of the holding device 12. Suitably secured at 18to the setting 14 in back thereof is a presently L-shaped support orbracket 20 having on its rearwardly extending leg 22 spaced upstandingend lugs or ears 24 provided with holes 26 in which are pivotallyreceived lateral tongues 28 at the inner end of a leaf-type operatingarm or element 30 which forms another part of the holding device 12. Theelement 30 is thus pivotally mounted on the support 20 for closure ofthe clamp-on device 12 on the ear lobe 1 of the wearer of the earring(Figs. land 2), or for opening this device for removal of the earring(Fig. 3). Hence, the operating arm 30 may in the present example beaptly termed the clamping arm of the holding device 12. i

The clamping arm 30 of the holding device 12 is also provided with aspring-type action arm 32 which at its free end is supported in suchmanner that this action arm is held under resilient stress, and moreparticularly bending stress or resilient fiexure for the snap-action ofthe clamping arm 30 into either of its closed or'open positions (Figs. 1and 3) on prying it part-way from its other position. To this end, theclamping arm 30, which is made of adequately resilient material,preferably metal such as low-grade spring steel, for instance, has anintegral punched-out tongue Which forms the action arm 32 and is at oneend integral and continuous with a free endle'ngth of the clamping arm30. The action arm' 32 is presently flanked by opposite legs 34 of theclamping arm 30 (Fig. 2). The action arm 32'is held under resilientbending stress or fiexure through cooperation between its free end and a:cam or shoulder formation 36 which presently is in the f orm of arearward extension of thesupport leg 22'beyo'nd the ears 24 thereon,with this extension being furthermore slightly offset inwardly from thebases of the ears 22 in the present example (Figs. 2 and 3). Thus, theaction arm 32 bears in the open position of the clamping arm 36 againstone side or dwell, presently the lower side (Fig. 3), of the camformation 36 and is thus held resiliently flexed to retain the clampingarm 34) yieldingly in its open position. Conversely, the clamping arm 30is in its closed position, presently against the wearers ear lobe I(Fig. 1), biased with sufiicient force against the latter to hold theearring thereon, by engagement of the free end of the action arm 32 withthe junction, presently edge, between the other side or dwell of the camformation 36 and the top or crest thereof. Of course, if the ear lobewere not in the way, the clamping arm 30 would be snapped all the wayinto engagement with the setting 14 with gradually decreasing force,however, as will be readily understood.

On prying the clamping arm 39 from its closed position (Fig. 1) towardits open position (Fig. 3), the same will at first resist such openingmovement with gradually increasing force until the free end of theaction arm 32 has passed the top or crest of the cam formation 36 andcomes to bear against the junction of this crest and the lower side ordwell of the cam formation in an angular position in which the resultantforce of the resiliently flexed action arm 32 urges the latter, and withit the clamping arm 30, first with maximum force and then with graduallydiminishing force into the position shown in Fig. 3. Conversely, onprying the clamping arm 30 from its open position (Fig. 3) toward itsclosed position (Fig. 1), the action arm 32 will at first resist suchclosing movement of the clamping arm with increasing force until theaction arm arrives in a position short of that in Fig. 1, and moreparticularly in an angular position of unstable equilibrium in which theresultant force of this resiliently flexed action arm urges the clampingarm with almost maximum force into its presently closed position againstthe wearers ear lobe 1.

One of the pressing problems that led to the tool tobe-described of thepresent invention are mass-produced low-cost earrings of the customvariety, as shown, which were found to lack wide appeal to thepurchasing public because of the lack of adjustability of the holdingdevices 12 thereof to the individual feel and comfort of prospectivepurchasers. Thus, the holding devices on these earrings close in mostcases either too tightly or too loosely on the ear lobes of interestedcustomers and hence, feel uncomfortable if not painful, or drop offshortly, yet sales personnel had hitherto no way of adjusting theseholding devices to proper fit and comfortable and safe wear, save bycrude attempts with conventional tools which mostly ruined the holdingdevices beyond worthwhile repair.

To the end of solving this problem in particular, but by no meansexclusively, there is provided the tool 40 in Figs. 4 to 6. This tool,in its preferred form, resembles simple pliers having two levers withopposite jaws 42 and 44 of which inclined rear lengths 46 and 48,respectively, are pivotally connected as at 50. The jaw 42 and itspivoted inclined rear length 46 are presently in the form of a blade ofuniform thickness (Figs. and 6), and the oposite jaw 44 is presentlyalso of the same thickness as the jaw 42 (Fig. 6), but its pivotedinclined rear length 48 is of greater thickness and is slotted at 52 forfitted reception of the inclined rear length 46 of the other jaw 42.Continuous with the inclined rear lengths 46 and 48 of the jaws 42 and44 are suitable handles 54 and 56, respectively, for manipulation of thelatter. The jaws 42 and 44 are preferably normally urged into their openposition (Fig. 4) by a preloaded spring 58 which is interposed betweenthe handles 54 and S6 and held thereon by pins 60 and 62, respectively.

One of the jaws, presently the jaw 42, has two projections or fulcrumelements 64 and 66 spaced apart longitudinally thereof a distanceapproximately equal,

more or less, to the length of the action arm 32, and facing the opositejaw 44. These fulcrum elements 64 and 66 are presently formed integrallywith the jaw 42 and have preferably rounded fulcrum ends or surfaces 68and 70, respectively, these fulcrum elements further leaving a gap gbetween them.

The other jaw, presently the jaw 44, has a projection or fulcrum element72 which may be in all respects like either of the fulcrum elements 64or 66, and confronts the opposite jaw 42. The fulcrum element 72, whichresently is formed integrally with the jaw 44, is located on the latterso as to be intermediate, and preferably substantially midway between,the fulcrum elements 64 and 66 on the oposite jaw 42.

Assuming now that the holding device 12 of the exemplary earring 14?(Fig. 1) closes too loosely on the wearers ear lobe, the present tool 40is applied to the holding device 12 in a manner like or similar to thatshown in Fig. 7, and preferably when the clamping arm 30 is in its openposition. Thus, in order to increase the closing and holding force ofthe holding device 12,

the jaw 42 preferably terminates at this fulcrum element 64. Preferablyalso, the other jaw 44 terminates in close proximity to its fulcrumelement 72. Jawclosing pressure may next be applied to the handles 54and 56 of the tool, with the result that the action arm 32 will bepermanently bent into steeper or more pronounced curve shape and itspreload will be correspondingly increased which causes the transmissionof a closing and opening force of increased magnitude to the clampingarm 30 from the action arm 32 through cooperation of the latter with thecam formation 36, as will be readily understood. Conversely, if theholding device 12 of the exemplary earring 10 closes too tightly on thewearers ear lobe, the present tool 40 is applied to the holding devicein a manner like or similar to that shown in Fig. 8, and preferably alsowhen the clamping arm 30 is in its open position. Thus, in order todecrease the closing and holding force of the holding device 12, the twofulcrum elements 64 and 66 may be brought to bear anywhere against thesupport leg 22 or cam formation 36 and near the inner end of the actionarm 32, but it is imperative that the single fulcrum element 72 bebrought to bear against that surface of the action arm which faces awayfrom the clamping arm 30. Jaw-closing pressure may then be applied tothe handles 54 and 56 of the tool. with the result that the action arm32 will be permanently bent into less steep or less pronounced curveshape and its preload will be correspondingly decreased which causes thetransmission of a closing and opening force of decreased magnitude tothe clamping arm 30 from the action arm 32 through cooperation of thelatter with the cam formation 36, as will also be readily understood.

Another feature of the present tool 40 for regulating the closing forceof a holding or clamp-on device of the present type 12 or a similar typeis the provision of a clearance space between the fulcrum element 66 andthe pivot connection 50 of the jaws for the reception of the freeendlength of the clamping arm 30 with which the action arm 32 is at oneend integral and continuous (Figs. 2, 7 and 8), with this free endlengthof the clamping arm 30 having in this clearance space freedom to respondin free motion to any permanent flexing of the action arm 32 by thetool.

The closing force, and also the opening force, of the holding device 12may thus be adjusted or regulated instantaneously and accurately withthe present tool 40 on its described simple application to the holdingdevice and on merely applying to the handles of the tool jaw-closingpressure of the correct magnitude, which may readily be achieved at asingle try most of the time after the operator has gotten the feel ofthe tool and its response to manual pressure on the handles thereofafter a few tries. Obviously, this task requires no special skill on thepart of the operator. Moreover, on mere application of the same tool ineither of two reverse fashions on holding devices of this type (Figs. 7and 8), the closing forces of the latter may be increased or decreased,as required. Accordingly, and in the specific exemplary'case ofmass-produced low-cost earrings of the custom variety, even technicallyunskilled sales personnel are fully capable to use the present toolright at the sales counter and accurately fit the holding devices ofthese earrings to the ears of customers for comfortable and safe wearand to the entire satisfaction of the latter. It is also fully withinthe capacity of any purchaser of these earrings to use the present toolthereon for their accurate fit and cornfortable and safe wear on herears.

While the use of the present tool 40 has herein been demonstrated on anearring with the exemplary holding device 12, the tool is in its use byno means limited either to earrings or to the specific holding device12, but may have many other applications generally involvingspring-force adjustment or regulation of the resiliently bent actionarms of snap-action operating elements, such as are frequently used insnap-type electric switches, just to mention another example.

The invention may be carried out in other specific ways than thoseherein set forth without departing from the spirit and essentialcharacteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are,therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and notrestrictive,

and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of theappended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

A plier-type tool for increasing or decreasing the holding force ofpivot-mounted jewelry holders having clamp-on endlengths remote from,and remaining continuing lengths to, their pivot mounts, andlongitudinal leaf-type snap-action arms struck from their remaininglengths and continuous with their endlengths, comprising a pair oflevers pivoted intermediate their ends to provide opposed jaws andopposed handles on opposite sides of the pivot axis, with the jawshaving three porjections terminating in fulcrum ends, of which two firstprojections extend from one jaw toward the other jaw and the remainingprojection extends from said other jaw toward said one jaw substantiallymidway between said first projections, said first projections beingspaced apart to span at least the greater part of a snap-action arm, andsaid first and remaining projections being adapted for application to asnap-action arm therebetween in reversible fashion and to impart ontheir variable closure on the arm variable permanent flexure in eitherof two opposite directions to the latter and thereby increase ordecrease the holding force of its holder, and said jaws being betweenthe pivot connection of said levers and the nearest projection on saidone jaw spaced from each other sufficiently to provide clearance spacefor the reception of the clamp-on endlength with which the arm iscontinuous with freedom to respond in free motion to the permanentflexing of the arm.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

